Body Phobia: The Western Roots of Our Fear of Difference

Anderson (In Transit: Being Non-Binary in a World of Dichotomies) argues that Americans’ understandings of their bodies are filtered through a white, evangelical Protestant lens that prioritizes the mind over the physical. They assert that this causes fear of the physical body, as people do not want to be perceived as different or frail, and they make decisions accordingly. Their book looks at factors—religion, disability, obesity, physicality, economics, death, race, and sexual and gender identity—that contribute to their beliefs about the body. Raised as an evangelical Christian but interested in Judaism, Anderson utilizes those religions and traditions in much of their analysis. They note that they identify as nonbinary and transgender, and their lived experiences inform the personal stories that they relate throughout the work. These stories, as well as current events and theories from religious scholars and theorists, contribute to the examples used and the advice given to readers as well.